October 2021

Traveling and exploring can mean using money different from our own. And as the Internet continues to bring the world together, we have a continually growing number of options for purchasing items across the globe. 

Of course, making these types of purchases with your credit or debit cards can mean using a foreign currency, for which you’re usually charged a fee. It’s called the Foreign Transaction Fee, and it typically hovers around 1% to 3%. The fee is paid in U.S. dollars. 

In practical terms, these fees can really add up over a long trip. If you’re charged at 3%, for example, for every $1,000 you spend, you’ll be paying $30 in foreign transaction fees. However, 1% to 3% is typically a more-favorable rate than you’d find at a currency exchange. 

Some cards offer no foreign transaction fees as a benefit—like Affinity Plus, and are worth considering if you’re planning a trip abroad! Learn more about Affinity Plus Visa Debit and Credit Cards.

Complete terms and conditions of the Visa Premiere Select Rewards ,  Visa Premier Classic cards and Visa Platinum Cards.

October marks Cyber Security Awareness Month. Do a self-check on your current security posture and ensure you are keeping your part of cyberspace secure. We sat down with Cary Tonne, Senior Vice President of Information Security at Affinity Plus, to gain some valuable insight on what you should look out for, emerging scams, and tips on how to help to protect yourself. 

Do a quick security check: With the holiday season approaching, chances are, you’ll be doing plenty of online shopping. Be sure that you are comfortable with providing your information online. Since the pandemic, most people are shopping on websites that they may have never heard of before, so it is always worth taking a look at the websites and asking yourself, ‘Am I comfortable providing my information here?’ 

A possible scam to look out for: Phishing on shipping items for the holidays this fall and winter is projected. While scams happen all the time given some of the supply chain distributions and how often shipping is occurring, you need to be aware that there’s likely going to be an increase in fraudulent emails and phishing emails. You may receive messages stating, ‘Click here for updates on your delivery or track shipment here,’ or something with a link. Beware of this and be cautious, as this is a common practice scammers use to steal your personal information. When in doubt, go to the respective website and look for tracking information. 

Check all of your passwords: Take a quick assessment of your passwords and make sure they are strong. Avoid using the same username and password on multiple sites. If a hacker/scammer is able to hack your information in one space, chances are, they will try to see where else they can hack and steal your personal information. If you have trouble remembering your username and password, look into a password manager solution system or use an authenticator as much as you can. 

Take inventory of what you’re putting out on social media: Be mindful of what you are putting out on your social media platforms and be aware of the content that exists in the digital space. Understand the security settings on your social media platforms and have different passwords for each platform, as breaches can happen and it puts you at risk. 

Look out for each other: As technology increases our digital presences, it’s especially important to know how to spot scammers. Scams target people of all backgrounds, ages and income levels; any of us may be vulnerable to a scam at some point in our lives. Many of our seniors are targeted because they are trusting, friendly and polite. If you are assisting a senior, make sure you’re looking out for them to make sure they’re digitally protected. Parents: have open conversations with your children on protecting yourself digitally and build strong passwords on whatever platforms your children use. 

And when all else fails, let your gut be your guide! If it seems “too good to be true,” chances are, it probably is. 

If you have concerns about scams and your personal information security, feel free to reach out to one of our trained, experienced member advisors at Affinity Plus.